the witch tryal
Step Back into 1692: The Witch Tryal Comes to North Madison
What if your neighbors accused you of witchcraft? What if the evidence against you was rumor, suspicion, and the testimony of people you knew? And what if the court was prepared to believe them?
On Saturday, October 24 at 7:00 PM, North Madison Congregational Church invites the public to step back into the charged and unsettling world of colonial New England with The Witch Tryal, an immersive theatrical experience presented in the church’s historic Meetinghouse at 1271 Durham Road, North Madison.
Drawing on real-life testimonies from the era, The Witch Tryal recreates the trial of a sharp-tongued widow accused of witchcraft. Was she simply a woman who refused to be intimidated by her neighbors? Did her accusers h something against her? Or, as they claimed, did she possess diabolical powers through a pact with the Devil?
The story reaches far beyond Salem. Connecticut, too, was swept up in the colonial witchcraft panic, with eleven women and men ultimately executed as witches. Through dramatic testimony and audience interaction, The Witch Tryal invites us to experience this frightening chapter of New England history from a remarkably intimate perspective—and to consider how fear, accusation, community pressure, and the search for someone to blame can shape the course of justice.
Set within North Madison Congregational Church’s historic Meetinghouse, the evening is designed to be more than a performance. Audience members become part of the experience, entering the atmosphere of a colonial-era trial and encountering the voices and testimony of those who lived through it. Come prepared to listen to the testimony, question the evidence, and decide for yourself: Who was really on trial?
Following the performance, guests are invited to continue the evening at a colonial-style reception.
Tickets are $20 and may be purchased through the church website at northmadisoncc.org or at the door. 1271 Durham Road, North Madison, CT. For more information: 203-421-3241
Due to the subject matter and moments of intense emotion, this program is not recommended for young children.